Bill Text: TX SCR35 | 2011-2012 | 82nd Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: Designating western swing as the official State Music of Texas.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Republican 2)
Status: (Passed) 2011-06-17 - Signed by the Governor [SCR35 Detail]
Download: Texas-2011-SCR35-Enrolled.html
| S.C.R. No. 35 | ||
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| WHEREAS, The State of Texas has traditionally recognized a | ||
| variety of official state symbols as tangible representations of | ||
| the proud spirit and heritage of our state; and | ||
| WHEREAS, In the field of music, Texas has nurtured important | ||
| developments in a variety of genres, but of the many styles that | ||
| have thrived here, one is particularly emblematic of our state's | ||
| unique character: western swing; and | ||
| WHEREAS, A lively sound that has enjoyed enduring popularity | ||
| over the course of nearly a century, western swing reflects the | ||
| ethnic diversity of Texas by encompassing many of the musical | ||
| traditions that were introduced to the state by the groups that | ||
| settled here; and | ||
| WHEREAS, The genre, also known by the fitting name of Texas | ||
| swing, traces its origins to the 1920s and is rooted in the fiddle | ||
| music of Anglo, Irish, and Scottish immigrants; it borrows heavily | ||
| from many other sources, however, including such African American | ||
| influences as blues and jazz, the Hispanic genres of conjunto and | ||
| mariachi, and the polkas, waltzes, and schottisches brought to | ||
| Texas by German and Czech settlers; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Though western swing has become popular throughout | ||
| the Southwest and beyond, its origins are firmly tied to the Lone | ||
| Star State; growing out of the music that was played in the state's | ||
| small-town dance halls, the style became better known through the | ||
| work of Texans Milton Brown and Bob Wills, two of the most famous | ||
| and influential swing artists of all time; these pioneers formed | ||
| the Light Crust Doughboys in the Fort Worth area in the early 1930s | ||
| and then went on to even greater fame while leading individual bands | ||
| of their own; and | ||
| WHEREAS, A key to the appeal of this spirited music is its | ||
| exceptional ability to get people dancing; this quality, too, is | ||
| evocative of Texas, a state in which dance halls have historically | ||
| been central to the social life of its communities; today, the | ||
| foot-tapping tempo of western swing continues to be heard all | ||
| across our state, with countless Texans repeating the time-honored | ||
| steps that have been kicking up sawdust on Texas dance floors for | ||
| generations; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Born and bred in Texas, western swing is a musical | ||
| melting pot that represents the diverse groups that have | ||
| contributed to the growth and prosperity of our state and the | ||
| distinctive way of life that has flourished here, and it is indeed a | ||
| fitting symbol for the rich cultural heritage that is shared by all | ||
| Texans; now, therefore, be it | ||
| RESOLVED, That the 82nd Legislature of the State of Texas | ||
| hereby designate western swing as the official State Music of | ||
| Texas. | ||
| ______________________________ | ______________________________ | |
| President of the Senate | Speaker of the House | |
| I hereby certify that S.C.R. No. 35 was adopted by the Senate | ||
| on May 5, 2011, by a viva-voce vote. | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Secretary of the Senate | ||
| I hereby certify that S.C.R. No. 35 was adopted by the House | ||
| on May 23, 2011, by the following vote: Yeas 142, Nays 0, one | ||
| present not voting. | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Chief Clerk of the House | ||
| Approved: | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Date | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Governor | ||
